Oakland man sentenced to five years in prison for robbing mail carrier

SAN FRANCISCO — A judge on Monday sentenced a 30-year-old Oakland man to five years in federal prison for robbing a mail carrier in San Francisco, prosecutors said.

Joseph Michael McBee pleaded guilty last fall to one count of robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Oct. 10, 2023, McBee stole a 2015 Kia Soul in Oakland and drove to a Toyota dealership in Daly City, where he helped two accomplices, Ebony Reeves and Felix Wilson, steal a 2023 Toyota Camry, prosecutors said, citing McBee’s plea agreement.

The trio then drove to San Francisco to find a mail carrier to rob, prosecutors said.

After spotting a mail truck and carrier, McBee jumped out of the Toyota and demanded the carrier’s keys. When the carrier refused, McBee pushed him to the ground and stole his wallet, prosecutors said, adding that the carrier suffered bruising to both arms.

More than 500 pieces of mail were also stolen during the incident, prosecutors said.

McBee, along with Reeves and Wilson, returned to Oakland, where he used the mail carrier’s credit card at a gas station, prosecutors said.

McBee was arrested on Oct. 31, 2023, after an “extensive and dangerous” car chase and foot pursuit, prosecutors said, adding that he was found with a gun and ammunition.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin ordered McBee to serve three years of supervised release.

As for McBee’s accomplices, Reeves was charged with receipt of stolen mail and Wilson with aiding and abetting mail robbery, prosecutors said. Both have pleaded guilty.